Improvement in magazine fire-arms



2 Sheets-Sheet 2. C. B. HUNT.

MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM. N 185 539 4 Patented Dec.19, 1876.

Wzbzeases: j/zrentor: 66am. l wi 45/44 4 M THE GRAPHIC ("LN-(- CHARLES B. HUNT, OF SPRINGVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAGAZINE FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 85,539, dated December 19, 1876; application filed August 19, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES BROWN HUNT, of Springville, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech -Loading Fire- Arms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to that class of breechloading guns classified as bolt-guns, and it consists, first, of a cartridge-carrier block having quadrangular cam-grooves internally, in combination with a loading-bolt, whereby the carrier is elevated from the magazine, the cartridge projected into the barrel, the carrier depressed, and the exploded shell extracted by the projecting and retracting motion of the loading-bolt; second, of a loading bolt having a sleeve connecting therewith by a left hand screw, whereby, by the operation of looking the bolt by rotating the sleeve bya handle, the bolt presses the shell of the cartridge tightly into the bore to prevent a rearward escape of the gases when firing, and in unlocking acts through the bolt and a cartridge-extract-or, so as to start the empty shell from the barrel; and, thirdly, of a pillar or post adjustable within the carrier, to adapt the same to any length of cartridge.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of my improved fire-arm. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the carrier-block detached. Fig. 5 is a view of the under side of the loading-bolt detached.

Ais the frame or casin g secured-to the stock; B, the barrel O, the magazine under the barrel, and D the hammer of the lock, operated by a trigger, in the ordinary manner. E is the carrier-block, operating vertically within the casing A at the breech. F are quadrangular path-grooves on the interior side faces of the carrier-block. Gris the loading-bolt, having a screw sleeve on its forward end, provided with lugs 12, which run in the grooves F, so that when the bolt is withdrawn the carrier-block is lifted to a position to enter the cartridge in the bore, and when the bolt is thrust inward it forces the cartridge into the bore, and immediately depresses the carrierblock to a position to receive the next cartridge from the magazine. bolt G may be forged with the lugs 12 on it, so as to be in one piece.

Rearwardly the bolt is provided with a lefthand screw, 10, on which screws a sleeve, H, and to the sleeve thehandle or lever I, for working the bolt, is connected. The sleeve H is provided with lugs a, which slide in coinciding grooves in the casing A, and enter a lockiilgchainber to fix the bolt in tiring position, when the handle or leverIis turned downwardly, and when so turned the left hand screw-thread causes the bolt to press forward and force the rim of the cartridge-shell firmly into the bore of the fire-arm, and prevents a rearward escape of the gases on exploding the cartridge.

P is a pin projecting from the firing-pin 2, and passing through a slot, 8, in the bolt G, and thence into a cam-shaped slot, 13, in the sleeve H. The downward motion of the lever I liberates the firing-pin, which is locked by the engagement of the pin P with the edge of the cam-slot in the sleeve when the lever is raised. Thus the fire arm cannot be discharged until the firing-pin is free, and it is not free until the lever is in its seat, at which time the bolt is in firing position.

The carrier E is formed with a bottom slightly declining from the barrel rearwardly, and the bolt is provided at its forward end with a hook, J, which, when the rim of the cartridge ascends therein, (the bolt moving in a straight line, and the lines of the bottom of block E and bolt converging,) the incline brings the rim of the shell of the cartridge beneath the hook, so that when the bolt is retracted the shell of the exploded cartridge comes with it, and strikes against a post, K, placed vertically in the frame, and trips it out of the carrier.

The post K is adjustable in a slot in the carrier and frame by a set-screw, L, engaging with the casingA,in order to adapt the weapon to a longer or a shorter cartridge.

The bolt has a longitudinal groove, M, to receive the end of a pin, N, to guide the bolt in its course, and to prevent it having a rotary motion imparted to it from the sleeve H, when the latter is acted upon by the lever I, as before described.

If preferable, the

The lever I is formed with a cam-face, engaging with an inclined face on the butt of the casing A, so that when the lever is raised after firing, the bolt is drawn slightly back,

and loosens the exploded shell from its seat in the bore, and its withdrawal made easy by the direct pull of the bolt rearwardly by the handle I, to operate the carrier, as before described.

The lever I is constructed with a removable section, 0, which, when detached, prevents the operation of the lever, thus making the firearm non-effective for the time being. R is a spring within the chamber of the magazine, at its entrance, to prevent the escape of the cartridges when the carrier-block is elevated to firing position, said spring guiding the cartridge to the carrier-block when it is in position to receive the cartridge, and while the cartridges are being inserted into the maga zine the spring yields to allow of their passage inwardly. i

The cartridgeextractor J is entirely inelastic, and hence is unaffected by the alternate heating and cooling of the weapon.

On the inside of the carrier-block E, and between the longitudinal grooves of the cam F, are slight projections or ribs 6 e, in a manner separating the cartridge-receiving chamber in the lower half of the carrier-block E, and the shell-receiving chamber of the upper part of the carrier-block. These ribs prevent the cartridge from flying up from its place, and the cartridge-shell from dropping on the cartridge.

I am aware that a cam on the loading-bolt has been heretofore used to force the cartridge snugly into the barrel. I am also aware that a locking device has heretofore been used, in which the act of unlocking the bolt starts the cartridge from its seat. These I do not claim, broadly but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The carrier-block E, provided with quadrangular cam-groove F, in combination with the loading-bolt G, provided with lugs b, for the purpose set forth.

2. The loading-bolt G, provided at its rear end with a left-hand screw-thread, 10, in combination with the short sleeve H, provided with a corresponding left-hand female screw and locking-lugs on its outside, by which the bolt is locked to the right in the receiver, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with the carrier-block E, slotted in its bottom, the adjustable post K, attached to the guard strap or casing, substantially as described.

CHARLES B. HUNT.

Witnesses:

WILL H. MOXON, DAVID G. WEEMS. 

